Fernie TransRockies

We did it…both Breathe Easy Teams completed the TransRockies in Support of Asthma Canada!!

It is SO great to be back in Fernie! What a great experience. Many
lessons learned. Hydration is important to stay on top of your asthma,
so is dust avoidance (a major trigger) and pacing yourself for the long
haul. Thanks again to my partner for the constant 80% effort reminders,
hydration example and Sherpa power. Other teams mentioned that we were
a great constant by which to gauge their pace. Steady on. Although we
were not racing, it was great to see our progress in a field of
originally 9 teams and we went from 7th place, to 4th place in the final with only 6
teams left; a race of attrition. It reminds me of how to live daily
with asthma. Check your peak flows, avoid triggers, take your
medications, drink and eat well and listen to your body.

The other Blackstone Fernie team of Michele and Sebastian did very
well. It was great to see them at the finish line. Thank-you to
everyone who made this possible. Our total donations are over $10,000
and climbing. The donation site is still open at www.asthma.ca. Shayne
has shaved his moustache in good faith and we will continue to work on
our educational seminars in the schools this fall. The Society of
Asthma Canada uses all donations to further education and research for
asthma nationally.

Thanks again for your thoughts, a cold beer and hugs
and cheers at the finish line. Happy Birthday Shayne. Finishing the TransRockies was a
great way to celebrate it.

Pepper

Hello Fernie!
Sherpa Shayne here in the Crow’s Nest Pass, having successfully completed the ride from Elkford. It was long, hot, dirty, and I think that Pat Gilmar has a price on his head for designing the course. Both Pepper and I are hanging in there with bandages and butt cream. The bikes have been running fabulous (thanks Straightline et al), and we are looking forward to coming home.

Support for Asthma Canada continues to come in from our fellow riders, they are impressed to see us out there. Despite this, my moustache continues to grow along with the ratty goatee. All donations would be greatly appreciated, especially by Mary-Jane. We look forward to seeing you all very soon. Home has never looked sooooooooo good.

The ‘rock garden’ of Day 5 has absolutely no flowers… in fact it doesn’t have anything to do with a ‘garden’ but is more accurately described as a graveyard of head-sized boulders strewn from one end of the path to the other. The fact that some people ride it amazes me; the ‘rock garden’ was a walking zone… or rather a stumbling zone after 75 k of up and down and 6k of debris fields to ride and push through. I found it a much harder day than yesterday!

At this time I’d like to thank the Support Team of Will Matthews and Krista Adams who provide the transportation of our travelling home and most importantly… great food and soul nourishment. They are the background strength behind the goal of getting Shayne and I to the end of this race to support the Asthma Society of Canada. Both Blackstone teams finished healthy and can be supported at www.asthma.ca.

By the way, Michele DID ride the ‘rock garden’.
Pepper

Oh what fun! …109 kms of single-track, double-track and flying gravel road. There were hazards galore with cross ditches and seven stream crossings, one which was threatening to sweep me down river. As I stood crotch-deep in the middle, Shayne thankfully came out to take my bike before I pitched in for a glacial swim. In fact, Shayne has proved himself to be a wonderful Sherpa on several occasions… not to mention reminding me constantly to stay at 80%, drink and stand up to save my butt. Surprisingly I’m listening. The most important goal of the Transrockies is to finish healthy and raise money and awareness for asthma nationally. And since there are 27 countries represented at this year’s race, maybe internationally.
-Pepper (Blackstone Fernie - Breathe Easy 1)

Hello Fernie! Day 4 out here in Whiteswan, with the longest day of riding done. Everyone is healthy, and we are managing to have a good time when not riding. We have met folks from South Africa, the UK, Belgium, and the island of Jersey (look it up), all here to ride and have fun. The rides are going really well, Pepper gives me too much credit – I’ve seen her shoulder her bike and carry it up an avalanche slope the length of 2 football fields. And she was only a little breathless. I still have the moustache, and I am also now sporting a cheesy goatee until we hit $20,000 on the asthma.ca website. Please donate so my wife will let me in when I get home – she may not recognize me. Thanks for all the good luck wishes, see you all soon.
Shayne (Blackstone Fernie- Breath Easy 1)

It was a relief to get onto some flowy single-track and there was lots of it! The time trial format was really cool and it let all the teams have some space to prove their handling skills.

Michele- I finally solved some of my nutrition bugaboos and found my legs for the first time this race. We raged on the single-track and schooled a few of the men’s teams about the right way to ride a log & steep downhills. We found our team rhythm and felt we put in a good time on the course, passing a few of our competitors and making up some time on others. There were definitely a few technically challenging spots and some amazing scenery. There was one portion of the course which ran above the Kootenay River about 200 meters atop of a cliff wall which were absolutely no slip zones!

Seb- The course was absolutely amazing, some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen and some of the best single-track I’ve ridden. I’d definitely like to come back and ride here just for fun. There was about 60% single-track, 30% quad track and only about 10% gravel road, but just enough hike-a-bike to qualify it as a TransRockies day! I feel we made some time on our competitors and should move up a couple of places in the standings and I’m quite happy about that.

It was a good day to be representing Blackstone Fernie and raising awareness of Asthma Canada. W

I sit under the awning of the RV, the rain coming down again, waiting for Pepper, Shayne, Michelle and Sebastian, the riders of the “Breath Easy Teams” in support of Asthma Canada.

Pepper is my partner and I love her very much….but right now the word is RESPECT…respect for her dedication to Asthma awareness, respect for her tenacity and courage and respect for her commitment to take care of herself and be an example for other Asthma suffers.
Today, the race is more than 70 KM and over two mountains with 3800 meters of climbing but that does not explain the challenge. There are grades that would challenge a mountain goat and swift rivers to cross. There are swamps and bogs and rain and snow. The descents are full of roots and rocks and mud and many times bordering deep canyons.

I sit and wait…it could be a 10 hour day today and then 5 more days to go after that…my heart goes out to Pepper and all the Breathe Easy Team and wish them a safe journey.
Please help them to reach their goal by donating to Asthma Canada .

Will Matthews
Breathe Easy Support Team

Day one from Panorama to K2 Ranch was a typical “Transrockies” day. We left with the music blaring, “The Highway to Hell”.  From Panorama we immediately began a relentless 2-hour hill climb ( the steepesta dn longest climb in the race) where we were rewarded at the top with snow, hail and fantastic vistas. There was the expected assortment of single-track downhills, rocky climbs, side- mountain shale tracks and muddy bogs. Best of all was the spectacular scenery and my favourite… the rolling fast gravel descent for 20 kms.

All the Fernie teams were in from just after 6 hours to 6:45. All came over the finish line with smiles; tired, but happy to be done for the day. Doug and George had mechanical issues that cost them an hour.

I am tired, but ready to ride tomorrow. Kudos to my partner Shayne for helping on the long climbs often pushing two bikes. Sebastian and Michele are downhill demons and made up several places on those stretches of single track and the Evolution girls are all around good riders.

My goal to arrive before 7 hours, but still ride within my limits was completed. What more could you ask for on the first day of the ‘toughest mountain bike race in the world’. It is an honour to ride for all those that have sponsored the ‘Blackstone Fernie Breath Easy” Teams and to represent Asthma Canada .

Pledges for the Asthma Society of Canada are starting to roll in as bikes from all over the world are doing the same. Brightly-coloured jerseys decorate the streets of downtown Fernie as riders gather before the first stage in Panorama Sunday morning.

The Blackstone Fernie Teams had a successful Fundraising Dinner Wednesday evening. The generous donation of a wonderful 4-course meal by Park Place Lodge and wine from Tinhorn Creek, allowed all the proceeds from the evening to go directly to the Society of Asthma Canada. Over $3,700 was raised as friends and supporters purchased tickets for the $75 a plate event.

Stories were shared, Dr. Virginia Robinson spoke briefly on the benefits of a non-profit Asthma Society in Canada, and a $1,000 donation was made by the Blackstone Transrockies Society in memory of a well-known local, Peter Sturmhoesel who died of asthma in his early thirties. Peter was a skier, mountain biker, husband and friend to many active Fernie residents. As someone who has struggled with an asthma attack fearfully at times in the Emergency Room, it was a very real and touching moment for me.

The Volunteer Canadian Ski Patroller Association, whom Michelle is an active member, also presented a cheque for $200.

Park Place Lodge’s fundraiser dinner

Gordon Sombrowski presenting Shayne, Pepper, Sebastine & Michelle with a cheque

Ken McRitchie (Blackstone) & Dan Savage (Fernie Event Director) presenting a second cheque

Now Shayne and I are packing his camp trailer, gathering the extra bike parts and nutrition supplements and generally keeping too busy to be nervous. At the last minute yesterday, picking up the motor-home that was pre-arranged, we were turned back at the border on a technicality that Canadian residents can’t use a motor-home rented in the US for Canadian recreation. Is a 7-day mountain bike race through the Rockies raising awareness for asthma recreation? But to no avail, we tried everything … so time to change plans at the last minute.

Michele and Sebastian are dealing with their own preparation issues as Sebastian awaits a new bike frame or the loan of another bike to solve the problem of a last minute cracked frame on the bike he has been riding throughout all the training.

We’ll all get it together in time to join the throng of 500+ colourful, tuned athletes at the race start. One day at a time, one obstacle at a time in preparations and throughout the race.

See you in the mountains.

Pepper

Fernie has participated as an official stage host of the TransRockies every year since the events inception in 2002. Following five consecutive years of being the Official Start community Fernie juxtaposed last year to become the Official Finish. No other community has staged the event more than four years, or been a Start or Finish for more than three years.

Event Director, Dan Savage, says, “With some of the best singletrack mountain biking in the Canadian Rockies and all the amenities of a ski town, combined with an extremely supportive business community, Fernie has emerged as the cornerstone community of the TransRockies.”

Local riders have been building an extensive network of singletrack trails for over 20 years. More than 60 trails line the valley and ridges overlooking the 100-year-old mining town. A huge variety of trail options offer everything from a formidable riding challenge to a pleasurable scenic cruise. As an international powder skiing destination, local accommodation and dining amenities are in abundance, catering to all budgets and tastes. Combining modern sport and recreation tourism with Fernie’s historic roots as a mining town has created a unique destination where relaxed locals greet visitors with a smile.

The community of Fernie invites all mountain bikers to visit and ride our famous TransRockies trails. You can also participate in the Epic Finish on August 16th in the heart of the Historic downtown and enjoy a public Champagne Tent and Beer Garden at the finish line. If you’re traveling with children aged three to eight, plan to participate in the bike rally starting at 10 a.m. on the 16th of August. The event is fun, educational and free to all contact the Fernie organizers to register.

We look forward to seeing you at the Blackstone Fernie TransRockies Epic Finish!